Incident of Banu Qurayza
| Fatwa #1529 | Category: Miscellaneous | Country: | Date: 9th July 2025 |
| Fatwa #1529 | Date: 9th July 2025 |
| Category: Miscellaneous | |
| Country: | |
Question
I have the following questions to clarify
Did Muhammad S.A.W own and trade slaves
Did he permit lies
And did he behead 800 Jewish men and boys.(Sahih Muslim )A Hadith,I need some clarity
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
- Slavery
Slavery has existed throughout human history as it is a natural consequence of war and expansion. It is illogical to assume that nations will not fight one another at some time or the other. Since war is inevitable, the question arises regarding the captives. In order to ensure no future war, the logical thing to do would be to put everyone to the sword, but this is a waste of life. Another alternative is to incarcerate these people for life, which is a waste of space and resources. Another alternative is to let them go free, risking a repeat war in the near future. Therefore, societies considered slavery as a way to assimilate the captives into society whilst maintaining authority over them.
Islam legislated slavery to ensure the proper treatment of slaves. Islam also actively encouraged the manumission of slaves as evidenced by the fact that many expiations require manumission. Similarly, one of the deserving categories of Zakat recipients are slaves trying to buy their freedom. Legislation of slavery should not be conflated with encouragement or continuance of slavery. Slavery was a fact of the time and was rigorously legislated. As slavery was renounced by the world, there is no objection from Shari’ah regarding this.
Slave trade was prevalent in the time of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. Manumission was strongly encouraged. Proper and fair treatment of slaves were one of the things Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam was worried about even on his deathbed!
- It is not permissible to lie in Islam. Both the Quran and Hadith are replete with warnings against lying as well as the virtues of honesty. Consider the following,
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: عَلَيْكُمْ بِالصِّدْقِ، فَإِنَّ الصِّدْقَ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْبِرِّ، وَإِنَّ الْبِرَّ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ، وَمَا يَزَالُ الرَّجُلُ يَصْدُقُ وَيَتَحَرَّى الصِّدْقَ حَتَّى يُكْتَبَ عِنْدَ اللهِ صِدِّيقًا، وَإِيَّاكُمْ وَالْكَذِبَ، فَإِنَّ الْكَذِبَ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْفُجُورِ، وَإِنَّ الْفُجُورَ يَهْدِي إِلَى النَّارِ، وَمَا يَزَالُ الرَّجُلُ يَكْذِبُ وَيَتَحَرَّى الْكَذِبَ حَتَّى يُكْتَبَ عِنْدَ اللهِ كَذَّابًا
Translation: Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “It is obligatory for you to tell the truth, for truth leads to virtue and virtue leads to Paradise, and the man who continues to speak the truth and endeavours to tell the truth is eventually recorded as truthful with Allah, and beware of telling of a lie for telling of a lie leads to obscenity and obscenity leads to Hell-Fire, and the person who keeps telling lies and endeavours to tell a lie is recorded as a liar with Allah.” (Muslim – 2607)
The concept of ‘taqiyya’ which is lying for some ulterior motive is a doctrine of the Shia sect and holds no place in Sunni Islam.
- Incident of Banu Qurayza
When Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam settled in Madina, he signed a treaty with the three Jewish tribes, Banu Qaynuqa, Banu Nadhir and Banu Qurayza. The treaty stated that the Muslims and Jews will live in the same city, ally with one another, and not support any outsider attacking the city. Mutual loyalty between the Muslims and the Jews was stipulated and not to assist the Mushrikeen Quraysh should they attack the city.
Soon after the battle of Badr, the Banu Qaynuqa began expressing a hostile attitude against Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam and the Muslims. They were repeatedly reminded of the signed treaty to no avail. The situation became such that the Sahabah even feared Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam walking alone at night lest the Banu Qaynuqa assassinate him. Their hostility culminated in the sexual assault of a Muslim woman, sparking a riot between the Muslims and the Jews. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam tried to calm the situation, yet they opted to intensify the threats. This led Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam to eventually lay siege to their fortress. After their surrender, they were exiled from Madina for going against the terms of the treaty. Note: Banu Qaynuqa were exiled even though they could have been killed by the Muslims.
Soon, Banu Nadhir also began showing similar resentment. One of their chiefs went as far as to offer Abu Sufyan (Radhiyallahu Anhu, not a Muslim at the time) inside information which allowed him to raid and kill a few Muslims. Members of Banu Nadhir also attempted to assassinate Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam by throwing a large rock on him as he sat against a wall awaiting them. This led Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam to besiege their fortress. When they surrendered, they too were exiled from Madina. Note: Banu Nadhir were exiled even though they could have been killed by the Muslims especially since they were guilty of actual assassination attempts.
During the battle of the trench, Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam decided to dig a trench at the only exposed entry area of Madina from which the Quraysh were approaching, relying on the mountainous regions on the sides to protect the city, and Banu Qaynuqa on another side to protect the city. The Banu Qaynuqa plotted with the Quraysh and intended to open their borders, allowing the Quraysh free entry into Madina. It so happened that the person the Quraysh appointed to communicate between themselves, and Banu Qaynuqa, was a man who had embraced Islam in secret and had accompanied the Quraysh to Madina hoping to help the Muslims however he could. He sowed seeds of doubt between the two groups not allowing them to fully go through with their plot. At this point, divine assistance also arrived forcing the Quraysh to retreat and leave Madina. By this point, the treachery and treason of Banu Qaynuqa was clear.
Therefore, Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam laid siege to their fortress. They refused to come out having no remorse for their actions. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam sent Ali Radhiyallahu Anhu to treat with them, but they shamelessly showered him with insults and directed the same to the Ummahatul Mu’mineen as well. Eventually tiring of the siege, the Jewish chief asked for Abu Lubabah Radhiyallahu Anhu, the chief of the Aws, to treat with them, as they had good relations with the Aws from before. Abu Lubabah Radhiyallahu Anhu told them to make peace with Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam as they had no other option, but at the same time, he passed his finger over his throat, signaling that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam would execute them. This was a mistake on his part as the two previous treacherous Jewish tribes were only exiled for their crimes, hence, the same should have been expected for the Banu Qaynuqa, especially knowing the compassion of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. Abu Lubabah Radhiyallahu Anhu realized his own mistake and tied himself to a pillar inside Masjid Nabawi swearing that he will not leave until Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam himself unties him with forgiveness.
Banu Qaynuqa then decided that they will not accept judgement from Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, but they will accept judgement from Sa’d ibn Muadh Radhiyallahu Anhu, whom they knew from before. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam agreed. Sa’d Radhiyallahu Anhu lined up both parties outside the fortress and took a pledge from both parties swearing to abide by whatever judgement he decreed. Both parties agreed.
Sa’d Radhiyallahu Anhu then decreed that all adult males be executed, and the women, children and animals be taken as captive. This was the verdict found in the Old Testament, hence, it was a decree the Jews themselves would have passed amongst themselves. This judgement was then carried out. The exact number of males executed is differed upon, some narrations mention 800, others less. Allah knows best the exact number. The concept of ‘boys’ is misleading as every baaligh male is an adult.
From this incident, it is apparent that the judgement was decreed by Sa’d Radhiyallahu Anhu, as requested by the Jews themselves. Furthermore, Sa’d Radhiyallahu Anhu himself said he based his judgement on Jewish law. Had the Jews accepted the decisions of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, they would most likely only have been exiled for their heinous crimes. Nevertheless, execution for treason is a justified and appropriate penalty. Had Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam wanted to execute all the Jews, he could have done so with all the tribes.
No sane honest historian has placed any blame on the judgements issued at this time.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Bilal Pandor
Concurred by
Mufti Muhammad Patel
Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah
Lusaka, Zambia